Assessing sexuality of patients on dialysis and renal transplant: A Tunisian study

Abstract

Introduction

Chronic renal failure is a public health issue. It leads to a degradation of physical integrity, hormonal disorders and a great psychological impact, which can lead to sexual disorders.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify risk factors of sexual dysfunction in patients on dialysis and renal transplant patients.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional survey conducted in nephrology department of Sahloul teaching hospital (Sousse) and Fattouma Bourguiba teaching hospital (Monastir) over two-month period. Patients on dialysis and renal transplant patients were included. Sexuality was assessed by FSFI and IIEF 15

Results

This study enrolled 137 patients (99 patients with chronic renal failure and 38 renal transplant patients). The incidence of erectile dysfunction of men on dialysis was 57% and was associated to a decrease in testosterone level (11%) and an increase in LH level (50%). Its main risk factors were age (p=0.000), the duration (p=0.009), the cardiovascular diseases (p=0.03), the anxiety (p=0.000), the depression (p=0.000) and the different aspects of erectile dysfunction (p=0.000. In women on dialysis, the most common sexual disorder noticed was sexual arousal disorder (78.8%).

In the transplant, erectile dysfunction was found in 18.2% of transplant men and was associated to age was a predictive factor (p=0.03). In women, orgasm and desire disorders were the most common (69%).

Renal transplantation improved erectile dysfunction in men with IIEF score rising from 14 to 27 (p=0.021). It also improved sexual life in women: increase of desire (p=0.042) and orgasm scores (p=0.034).

Conclusions

Sexual disorders remain common in patients on dialysis and with renal transplant. Their management requires a systematic screening to improve patients’ outcome

Disclosure of Interest

None Declared